In the Shape of your Shadow28 Jan – 8 Feb 2020
Concept Note
How do we know when we are awake or when we are dreaming?
How do we know what we perceive is “real” or just “illusion”?
Taoist challenges (400 BC) towards definitions of reality and illusion contain a metaphor of spiritual awaking. In the story of Zhuangzi’s dream of butterfly (476–221 BC), the transition between “man” and “butterfly” refers to the transformation of material things. They indicate spiritual transformation. I am wondering if the “I” from different dreams is the same as the “I” of the awaking world. What is the boundary between “reality” and “dream”?
In the allegory of Plato’s Cave (380 BC) a group of people is chained to the wall of a cave for their whole live. Facing a blank wall they considered the shadows of themselves reality. Shadows on the wall might not be the reality.
Shadows were seen by “prisoners” as “non-reality”, rather than “reality”.
A fire lighting the walls of the cave might have created shadows.
Could we differentiate “reality” from “non-reality” through senses?
When one experiences something so-called “reality”, like in Zhuangzi’s case, how do we know if it is only another level of “dream”?
Huang Lele
About Artist
Sarojini Lewis is born in Rotterdam, NL and has parents of Indian descendant, she is working and living in New Delhi and pursuing a PhD in Visual Studies at School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
“I find moments that function as a transition, a landscape as a mirror with a photographic documentary approach. They reflect a feeling, leading to unexpected situations. In the series Traces in El Alamein, I worked with my grandfather’s migration from Shillong to multiple destinations during his British army service. Working intimately with landscapes in El Alamein I redefine traces that allow for new interpretations within my art practise.” This landscapes have a psychological layer that connected to the series Evocations made in JNU caves. The caves and the walk through this landscape produced this series of performative portraits.
ExhibitionGallery
Closing of exhibition on 8th Feb, followed bySarojini Lewis and Meet Narang’s performance
In the Shape of your Shadow
How do we know when we are awake or when we are dreaming?
How do we know what we perceive is “real” or just “illusion”?
Could we differentiate “reality” from “non-reality” through senses?
When one experience something so called “reality” how do we know if it is only another level of “dream”?
A perfect closing of a remarkable show was witnessed on 8th Feb at Gallery ONKAF. This event was organised for those who wanted to interact with Sarojini and learn more about her practice. Alongside was a unique performance by Sarojini and Meet with whom she has collaborated since 2016 Kochi Biennale. Meet collected objects from various places that produce distinctive sounds. Over the years, these objects have established a longer relationship and touch upon his personal memory. In this performance, a collection of objects were placed around a bed sheet that Sarojini slept on for the last 5 years evoking an atmosphere of dream.
